James Nicholas Sotack Jr.

April 26, 2006

DALLAS — Major James Nicholas Sotack Jr., 54, passed away on April 23, 2006, in the Medical Center of Mesquite, near his home in Sunnyvale, Texas.

James Sotack Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1952, in Hazelton, Pa., the oldest of five children, son of James and Martha Sotack. He grew up in Hazelton, attended St. Joseph's School and Hazelton High; he moved with his family to North Brunswick, N.J., and graduated from North Brunswick High School in 1969. He completed his baccalaureate degree in 1973 at Rider College in Rider, N.J.

Following his graduation from college, Jim pursued graduate medical studies at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, where he earned his Physician's Assistant degree. It was also in Dallas where he met and married Texanne Amstutz Sotack, on Aug. 27, 1979. Jim began practice in Playas, N.M., then began government service at the Veteran's Administration in Hampton, Va.

Jim subsequently accepted a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force. His duty stations included Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas; Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C.; Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.; and Travis AFB, Vacaville, Calif. While in the Air Force, Jim achieved the rank of Major and earned a Master's in Medical Science from St. Francis College, and a Master's of Physician Assistant Studies in Dermatology from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.

Jim served in both private dermatology practice and in the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center of North Texas, and also served as adjunct professor of dermatology for Southwestern Medical School, instructing students during weekly rounds at the hospital, from 2003-2006.

He will be remembered for his important service to substantial numbers of dermatology patients over the course of his career, especially the older military veterans that he treated with medical care, dignity and respect in VA hospitals.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Martha Sotack.

He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 27 years, Texanne Sotack; by his brother, Jeffrey Sotack, and niece, Laura, of Yorktown, Va.; brother, Nichols, and sister-in-law, Elaine, niece Jennifer, nephews, Nicholas and Michael, of Williamsburg, Va.; by his brother, Robert Sotack, of Williamsburg; and by his sister, Mary Jean Sotack, and nephew, Alexei, of Williamsburg; by father-in-law and mother-in-law, Stan and Maxine Amstutz of Dallas; by sister-in-law and brother- in-law, Amy and David Claxton, and nephews, Ben and James, and niece, Christina, of Hershey, Pa.; and by sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gloria and Michael White, and nephew, Travis, and niece, Jessica, and her husband, Brian Arneson, all of Austin, Texas.

The family appreciates all the kindness and support extended from friends, especially our family friend, Arlene Brateris, of Sunnyvale. The family also sends a heartfelt special thanks to the caring, compassionate doctors and nurses of the ICU at the Medical Center of Mesquite.

Services will begin with viewing at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Northwest Highway 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 28, followed by a Panachida at 6 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at St. Basil's the Great

Byzantine Catholic Church in Irving, Texas at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29. Burial will be in the Price-Amstutz family section of Nubbin Ridge Cemetery near the town of Granbury, in Hood County, Texas.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Jim Sotack be donated to University of Texas Southwestern Medical School of Allied Health Sciences Scholarship Fund for Physician Assistant Students, c/o Office of Development, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-9009.